Playlist: Golden Calf (topic)

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Do You Have a Golden Calf?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mike Ford

Abijah had three good years but was suddenly cut off because he didn't remove the idols. One act of faith is only something to build on, not a cause to rest.


The Commandments (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Idolatry derives from worshiping the work of our hands or thoughts rather than the true God. Whatever consumes our thoughts and behavior has become our idol.


What's Wrong With Christmas?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The Catholic Church mixed truth and falsehood to have the 'official' birthdate of the Son of God coincide with the rebirth of the sun, the winter solstice.


The Second Commandment: Idolatry

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The natural mind craves something physical to remind us of God, but the Second Commandment prohibits this. Any representation will fall short of the reality.


Extremes of Idolatry: Graven Images and Sacred Names

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Some stretch the second commandment to condemn the use of all paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Others claim only Hebrew names for God can be used.


Hamas' October 7 Attack

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Hamas' October 7 attack fits into a biblical pattern of God's people turning from Him, causing God to hide His face and allow incredible suffering.


Idolatrous Suppressors of the Truth

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

When John talks about idols, he is going far beyond things like statues, icons, and crucifixes, but instead anything people focus on first.


The Nature of God: Elohim

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Understanding Elohim teaches us about the nature of God and where our lives are headed. Elohim refers to a plural family unit in the process of expanding.


Truth-Based Worship Vs Spiritual Confusion

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God never accepts worship that comes from human reasoning and the traditions of man. The starting point for worship must always be God and His revelation.


Our Mission Possible

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

If we inculcate the mission statement found in Deuteronomy 6:1-5 (known as the Shema), we will have a high certainty of life and a huge chance at success.


Deuteronomy and Idolatry

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We are admonished to internalize the book of Deuteronomy in preparation for our future leadership roles.


Flee From Idolatry (Part Two): Faithfulness

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Like a boxer, we must exert ourselves with a broad spectrum of skills to subdue our carnal bodies, mortifying the flesh with maximum self-discipline.


The Trinity and the Holy Spirit (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The true understanding of Elohim dismantles the entire trinity argument. God is reproducing Himself; we are being prepared to become a part of Elohim.


Keep Yourself From Idols

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

An idol is anything in our lives that occupies the space which should be occupied by God alone, anything having a controlling force in our lives.


The Fear of God (Part One)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must have established some relationship with God before we can rightly fear Him. A holy fear is the key to unlocking the treasuries of salvation and wisdom.


Hosea's Prophecy (Part Four)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Both Israel and Judah during Hosea's time adopted paganism from the surrounding nations. Syncretistic religion blends paganism and Christianity.


God, the Church's Greatest Problem

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

After our calling, we must seek God and His way, for our conduct is motivated by our concept of God. Coming to know God is the church's biggest problem.


Who Is on the Lord's Side?

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Feast of Trumpets is a day of decision, a time to determine whether we are on the Lord's side. We must loyally fulfill the role to which God called us.


Passover and I Corinthians 10

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like the Old Testament examples, the Corinthians had a careless presumption, allowing themselves to lust, fornicate, tempt God, and murmur.


Amos (Part Eleven)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Ancient Israel had at the core of its religion an obsession to please the self at the expense of justice and the best interests of the disadvantaged.


Deception, Idolatry and the Feast of Tabernacles

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jeroboam, pragmatic and fearful, established a more convenient idolatrous festival to prevent his people from keeping the real Feast of Tabernacles in Judah.


Acts (Part Eight)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Stephen points out that historically, God has dealt with His people without land or temple, but instead through deliverers, initially rejected by their own.


A Son Is Given

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The names of God reveal His character and attributes, and so also with Jesus. The reasons for Jesus Christ's incarnation are revealed in His names.


Passover (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Major reinterpretations have significantly distorted the meaning of Passover and Unleavened Bread, blurring the distinction between the two events.


Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Outcome based religion exalts numerical growth and feeling good over the truth of God, promoting the use of modern psychology over 'divisive' biblical doctrine.


Hosea's Prophecy (Part Seven)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Nations, like individual people, die first in spirit and then physically. They seldom die cataclysmically, but in gradual, incremental stages.


Numbers: The Book of Judgment

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We live daily in uncharted territory, but the sobering account in Numbers provides a roadmap, establishing God's pattern of judging our pilgrimage conduct.


Freedom's Dark Underbelly

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Any freedom to choose must be accompanied by a set of standards against which choices are made. The people of the world do not have this freedom.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Gnostics criticized by Paul in Colossians 2:16-17 were guilty of bringing in ritualistic ascetic discipline to propitiate demons.


We Will Serve the Lord!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Joshua's deeds were demonstrations of God's power. Joshua charged the leaders to remain courageous, love God and His Law, and serving Him with all their heart and soul.


It Can Only Be One Way - Choose!

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

As the carcasses of our forebears covered the Sinai, the ruined lives of former believers who compromised with God's law, also have succumbed to ruin.


Go Forward

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Are we ready to sacrifice as was Moses, realizing that our precious calling is far more than the imaginary quest of Don Quixote?


The Handwriting Is on the Wall (2021)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark Schindler

When comparing the Jewish Disneyland Succoth Extravaganza with the Holy Days kept by Israel, it is obvious that the veil still bars their understanding.


Walk By Faith Not Fleece

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

God mightily used Gideon, initially a timid man who required multiple signs from God, when he began walking more by faith than sight.


Learning the Right Things (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The harmful things people learn thoroughly in their youth will sabotage any helpful steps to correct this earlier enslaving conditioning.


The Day of Atonement and Israel's Future

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The cleansing of Joshua's filthy robes in Zechariah 3 is a future application of the cleansing in Leviticus 16, when Jesus Christ cleanses Israel in the future.


Out Of Egypt

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

The Israelites witnessed many miracles, but their attention was short-lived as they prevailed upon Aaron to make a golden calf. They never really left Egypt.


Faithful Stephen

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Christ does not want His staff to exercise Gentile patterns of tyrannical, top-down leadership, but to humbly serve people without striving for greatness.


How God Deals With Conscience (Part Four)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

At times, God has to ignite our conscience and undermine our self-confidence to get our attention in a similar fashion as he did to Joseph's brothers.


Behind Enemy Lines: Lucifer, Helel, and Satan

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Satan was first named Helel, or 'son of the dawn.' When Jerome translated the Hebrew into Latin, he named him Lucifer, or light-bringer, a title of Christ!


Seeking God's Will (Part Three): Patience

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We must adopt God's perspective on time, developing longsuffering and developing tranquility under adversity, waiting patiently on God.


Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part Ten)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The statement, 'it is not good for man to be alone,' is the first declaration that something was not good. Being alone denotes separateness.


A House Left Desolate

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God is a God of mercy, but He has a stiff core of justice which will not be placated unless we repent. To whom much has been given, much will be required.


Are You Feeling Guilty Of Past Sins?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Sometimes Christians fixate on past sins. But we cannot experience the joy of salvation while obsessing on past sins. Christ's blood covers sins repented of.


Radiating the Glory of God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark Schindler

We have been allowed the privilege of knowing God now. We need to radiate the glory of God as Moses radiated the glory of God by having been in His presence.


Power Belongs to God (Part 2)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We may be going through a period of hopelessness, but must believe that all things work together for those who believe and are called for His purpose.


God's Faithfulness and Hope

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The children of Israel severely tested God's patience through their compulsive murmuring and faithlessness, but God refused to give up on them.